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psoriasis

Methods for treating psoriasis

Is psoriasis transmitted or not?

When answering the question of whether psoriasis is contagious or not, it should be borne in mind that the disease is not transmitted sexually, by airborne droplets, by contact or by any other means. It is impossible to get infected with it.

Due to the disruption of the process of exfoliation of keratinized skin scales, dry patches appear on the body. Although you can't die from them, patients suffer from significant psychological problems due to their appearance.

Causes of Psoriasis

It is not yet clear exactly what causes psoriasis. There are different theories about the origins of the disease. Experts tend to believe that damage to skin and nails can be caused by:

  • stress, negative emotional experiences;
  • endocrine pathologies;
  • hereditary predisposition;
  • a malfunction of the immune system, which disrupts the growth and division processes of epithelial cells.

The autoimmune cause of psoriasis is that the immune cells T helper and T killer cells, which are normally responsible for protecting the body from tumor cells, pathogenic viruses and bacteria, begin to invade the upper layers of the skin. Here they produce substances that activate the inflammatory process. As a result, the skin cells begin to divide and multiply quickly. Proliferation is observed.

The development of psoriasis is also possible due to the interaction of several factors from the following list:

  • Very thin and poorly hydrated skin (little sebum is produced).
  • Frequent contact with irritating compounds – low-quality cosmetics, alcohol solutions, household chemicals.
  • Washing your body and hands too often (especially if you use a hard washcloth and antibacterial soap/shower gel).
  • Alcohol abuse.
  • The development of infectious diseases caused by staphylococci, streptococci and fungi.
  • Taking antidepressants, lithium carbonate, beta blockers, antimalarial drugs and anticonvulsants.
  • Change of climate zone.
  • Mechanical injury to the skin.
  • Tendency to allergic reactions.
  • HIV infection.

Classification of the disease

If you study different photos of psoriasis in the initial stages, you will notice differences - there are several variants of this dermatological pathology. Depending on the location of the lesion, the following happens:

  • Psoriasis of the scalp (manifested by itching, cracked and bleeding skin).
  • Nail psoriasis (the nail plate gradually separates from the nail bed and becomes painful, red spots form on it).
  • Palmoplantar psoriasis (the disease often only occurs on the soles of the feet and/or palms of the hands).
  • Psoriasis of the skin (dry plaques appear in various parts of the body).
  • Arthropathic psoriasis (joints are affected).
  • Genital psoriasis (disease of the skin of the genital organs).

Clinical forms of psoriasis:

  • Ordinary or vulgar. They are small, flat, pink-red papules that protrude slightly above healthy skin. The top of the papules is covered with light scales that begin to fall off when touched lightly. If treatment for psoriasis is not started on time, small lesions merge into large ones.
  • Exudative. It is more common in people with obesity, hypothyroidism and diabetics. The symptoms of psoriasis of this form are as follows: the papules are bright red in color, on the upper side of which yellow-gray scales are visible. Plaques affect skin folds - the armpits, the area under the mammary glands in women. Patients complain of itching and burning.
  • Seborrheic. Psoriasis is observed on the head, behind the ear, on the nasolabial and nasolabial folds, between the shoulder blades and on the chest. The boundaries of the spots are not clearly defined. The peel is silvery-yellow. If you look at a photo of psoriasis on the head, associations arise with such a common fungal disease as dandruff.
  • Palmoplantar. The disease occurs in people aged 30 to 50 whose work involves heavy physical labor. With this form, rashes can also appear on the body.
  • Pustular. Pustular elements form on the body. In medicine, another form of the pustular form is identified - Tsumbush psoriasis. It can be idiopathic (primary) – blisters form on the skin that turn into pustules. The pustules open and dry out. Later, scaly skin rashes typical of the disease appear on them. And also secondary with a benign course. In this case, due to the irritating effect of drugs, pustules form on the surface of typical psoriasis plaques.
    Another form of pustular form is Barber's psoriasis. It only affects the soles of the feet and palms of the hands. Purulent pustules are visible on the skin. They do not open and turn into dark, dry crusts over time. Barber's psoriasis is characterized by the symmetry of the lesion.
  • Arthropathic (articular). Severe form. Occurs in patients who have skin rashes. It usually occurs five to six years after the first symptoms of the disease appear if treatment for psoriasis has been inadequate. Pathologies of the joint system can be different, ranging from mild arthralgia, which does not lead to changes in the articular apparatus, to deforming ankylosis (the joint becomes completely immobile).
  • Psoriatic erythroderma. It is a result of vulgar or exudative psoriasis. Almost all of the skin is affected. It turns red and is covered with a large number of dry scales. The body temperature rises, an enlargement of the lymph nodes (especially the thigh and inguinal lymph nodes) is observed. If the patient does not learn how to treat psoriasis, hair loss and brittle nails may occur.

According to the criterion of seasonal relapses, psoriasis is divided into:

  • Summer;
  • winter (most common);
  • unsure.

Symptoms of psoriasis

Treatment depends on the predominant symptoms of psoriasis. Therefore, at the first appointment, the doctor conducts a thorough examination of the patient and thoroughly examines the location of the psoriasis lesions.

More often the disease manifests itself in winter. In summer, the signs of psoriasis can disappear completely under the influence of sunlight. However, in the "summer" form of the pathology, exposure to sunlight should be avoided. During an exacerbation, the patient complains of very severe itching. Damage to the nail plates is observed in only 25% of patients.

When the scalp is diseased, the hair is not involved in the pathological process. First, the skin begins to peel off. Over time, areas of rash can "spread" to the neck area behind the ears. The inflammatory process is caused by the very rapid division of keratinocytes.

In psoriasis of the palms and feet, the stratum corneum thickens and becomes covered with deep cracks. A photo of psoriasis in its early stages shows pustules with transparent contents. Later they turn white and turn into dark scars.
The most common types of damage to nail plates are:

  • The nail is covered with dimples that look like puncture marks ("thimble-type").
  • The nail changes color and begins to peel, which resembles a fungal disease. A psoriatic papule can be seen through the nail plate, surrounded by a red border.

Stages of psoriasis

Although there is still debate about what psoriasis is and what exactly can trigger its appearance, the stages of the disease are already well understood. There are three of them:

  • Progressive (initial). New growths appear on the surface of the skin in the form of a rash that tends to grow along the periphery. They spread to healthy skin and form oval or round plaques. The spots are pink or red. They don't have a flaky crust yet, just whitish scales. The edges of the lesions are slightly compacted. Scratching causes new rashes to develop.
  • Stationary. Occurs one to four weeks after the first symptoms of psoriasis. The plaques become lighter. New rashes do not appear, old ones slowly disappear. Papules heal in the direction from the center to the edges, which is why their shape becomes ring-shaped. The entire surface of the healing lesions is covered with scaly white scales.
  • Regressive (fading). The color of psoriasis plaques can hardly be distinguished from healthy skin. The itching is minimized. A "Voronov collar", a ring of dense keratinized skin layers, forms around the lesions. If the patient uses a high-quality ointment for psoriasis, the regression period lasts about a month. Otherwise, the "fading process" can last up to six months.

The task of a patient diagnosed with psoriasis is to keep the disease in remission permanently.

    If you notice similar symptoms, seek medical attention immediately. It is easier to prevent an illness than to deal with its consequences.

    How is psoriasis diagnosed?

    A dermatologist diagnoses psoriasis. The procedure is based on an external examination, assessing the condition of the skin and nails and studying the localization of lesions. If symptoms are obvious, no additional tests are required. If difficulties arise in making the diagnosis, a skin sample is taken from the inflamed area (biopsy) and examined in the laboratory.

    If you complain about joint pain, an x-ray will be taken. A blood test will also be ordered to ensure that no other types of arthritis are present. To rule out a fungal infection, a potassium hydroxide test is performed.

    How to cure psoriasis

    The treatment of psoriasis is complex. It contains:

    • general therapy;
    • local therapy;
    • Physical therapy.

    Before a dermatologist determines how to treat psoriasis, he determines the stage of the disease, its clinical form and the extent of the process. When prescribing medications, the patient's age and the presence of concomitant diseases are taken into account. Usually, the safest drugs for health, which are characterized by the least number of side effects, are selected first. If they do not ensure the transition of psoriasis to the regression stage, the treatment is adjusted.

    Systemic medications for psoriasis

    Medication taken orally helps with moderate to severe stages of psoriasis. These include:

    • Vitamin A derivatives (retinoids). Reduce the maturation rate of keratinocytes. Normalize cell differentiation and maturation.
    • Immunosuppressants. Reduce the activity of T lymphocytes, which leads to increased division of epidermal cells.
    • Medicines for the treatment of malignant tumors. Inhibits the reproduction and growth of atypical skin cells.

    Physiotherapy for psoriasis

    Physiotherapeutic procedures significantly improve the well-being of patients with psoriasis. In some cases, they allow you to stop taking medications completely. Most commonly used:

    • Selective phototherapy. The affected skin is irradiated with UV rays with a wavelength of 280-320 nm. 15 to 35 procedures are prescribed.
    • Photochemotherapy (PUVA therapy). The method involves the combined use of a photosensitizer inside and long-wave UV irradiation from outside. Ultraviolet rays penetrate deep into the skin and the photosensitizer blocks the process of DNA synthesis of skin cells and reduces the speed of their division. The duration of the course is 20 to 30 procedures.
    • Laser therapy. Laser radiation of different wavelengths is used. The laser ensures accelerated resorption of plaques and prevents scarring in their place.
    • Use of monochromatic ultraviolet radiation. Each lesion is treated in turn with a lamp/laser source of UV radiation. Healthy skin is not affected. The method is optimal when less than 10% of the skin is affected. The treatment duration is 15 to 30 sessions.
    • Electrosleep. Electrical impulses have a mild effect on the brain for 20 to 60 minutes. As a result, the patient calms down, the functioning of the central nervous system normalizes, and the psoriatic plaques begin to dissolve.
      Ultrasound therapy. It has a decongestant, anti-itching and pain-relieving effect. Accelerates the resorption of scars. If necessary, it can be combined with phonophoresis. To achieve a therapeutic effect, 7 to 14 sessions are required.
    • Magnetic field therapy (Betatron device). It has a general healing effect on the body. Relieves inflammation, relieves itching and burning, and helps get rid of joint pain.
    • Treatment with bee venom. Bee venom is injected into the body using an electrophoresis or ultrasound device. It is characterized by a dissolving and anti-inflammatory effect and normalizes metabolic processes.
    • Hyperthermia. Tissue affected by psoriasis is heated to a temperature of 40 degrees using pads containing a thermal mixture. The treatment helps to improve the functioning of the immune system and reduce the negative effects of the disease on the skin.

    Ointments for the treatment of psoriasis

    According to reviews, treatment of psoriasis with ointments can achieve excellent results if the drug is selected correctly. At the first symptoms, non-hormonal formulations are prescribed:

    • Salicylic ointment (softens the skin, relieves inflammation, removes dead epidermal cells);
    • Anthralin (slows down DNA synthesis, reduces the activity of cellular enzymes, slows down the process of cell division);
    • Sulfur ointment (disinfects, softens, removes white plaque from lesions);
    • Naphthalane ointment (relieves itching, relieves pain, normalizes immune reactions).

    If treatment of psoriasis with non-hormonal ointments does not produce the expected effect, hormonal drugs or strong ointments containing the following glucocorticosteroids are prescribed:

    • Hydrocortisone. Relieves the feeling of tension and itching. Suppresses the increased activity of leukocytes and prevents their movement into the skin.
    • flumethasone. Helps with the exudative form of psoriasis. It is characterized by a pronounced anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory and antipruritic effect.
    • Triamcinolone acetonide. Has an itching and anti-inflammatory effect. Indicated during periods of exacerbation.

    Scalp psoriasis occurs in 50% of patients and causes the most severe discomfort. When you are sick, you should avoid hair dryers, gels and hair sprays. It is important that hairpins and combs do not scratch the skin. Otherwise, the outbreaks will begin to spread.

    Scalp psoriasis is treated with:

    • UV comb (promotes the formation of profile skin cells from keratinocytes, thereby resorbing existing plaques).
    • Photochemotherapy (UVR combined with Beroxan, Puvalen and Psoralen).
    • Medicated shampoos (Tana, Nizoral, Friederm Teer). It is advisable to buy several different products and alternate them. This avoids addiction.
    • Salicylic ointment (apply to the crown, cover the head with cellophane and leave for two hours).
    • Hormonal lotions (Belosalik, Elokom, Diprosalik). Contains steroid hormones. Easily applied to the scalp and effectively eliminates flaking and itching.
    • Kirkazon decoction (normalizes the process of cell division of the skin, cleanses).

    The effects of each scalp treatment become apparent after a few weeks, so there is no need to interrupt the treatment after several sessions.

    Treatment of psoriasis at home with folk remedies

    To cure psoriasis forever at home, folk remedies will help if it is a mild form of the disease:

    • Herbal tea made from dandelion roots, St. John's wort or nettle leaves.
    • Therapeutic baths with the addition of a decoction of string, soapwort or yarrow.
    • Wipe the affected areas with cabbage brine, celandine juice and birch tar.
      Compresses based on garlic infusion.

    According to reviews, treating psoriasis with hydrogen peroxide can also achieve good results. It is necessary to lubricate psoriatic plaques twice a day with a cotton swab soaked in a three percent solution. The duration of the course depends on the severity of the symptoms and can last up to two months.

    Diet for psoriasis

    Products approved to worsen psoriasis include:

    • fruits (apples, apricots, peaches);
    • fruit juices;
    • vegetables (beets, potatoes, radishes, watermelon, pumpkin);
    • Green;
    • berries (all except red ones);
    • lean meat (beef, veal, turkey, rabbit) – up to 200 grams per day;
    • any nuts;
    • lean fish;
    • fermented milk products, cottage cheese and cheese;
    • whole wheat bread;
    • Sea kale.

    People with psoriasis should not eat:

    • smoked dishes;
    • red fish;
    • animal fat;
    • eggs;
    • pork and duck meat;
    • Bakery products.

    Drinking coffee, carbonated and alcoholic drinks is prohibited. It is advisable to limit sugar consumption. To cleanse the body, it is recommended to carry out fasting days twice a week - vegetable, apple or kefir.

    Is psoriasis dangerous?

    Psoriasis is a serious but not fatal disease. It reduces the quality of life because it looks unsightly. Plaques on the body prevent patients from working in a team or resting. They often lead to restricted movement and difficulty performing simple physical tasks. Untimely treatment of psoriasis can lead to damage to the visual organs and joints.

    It is impossible to completely cure psoriasis. This is a chronic dermatological disease that must always be kept in a "resting state".

      risk group

      The risk group includes people with:

      • chronic skin diseases;
      • skin injuries;
      • Disorders of the central nervous system and the autonomic system.

      prevention

      To prevent the disease, doctors recommend:

      • moisturize the skin;
      • Avoid prolonged stays in cold and dry rooms;
      • Do not take beta-blockers and lithium (except in extreme cases) because they provoke psoriasis.

      This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute scientific material or professional medical advice.